Fast and Fabulous. The Trippi filly Franny could run the boys ragged in Sunday’s African Holly Handicap at Clairwood
Gavin Van Zyl’s top-class Trippi filly Franny takes on the males in Sunday’s R100 000 African Holly Handicap run over 1000m at Clairwood. The non black-type race has attracted a fast field of ten and there should be little between Franny and Wendy Whitehead’s Coffee Sheik.
The brilliant multiple Gr3 winning Franny has earned at of her six starts to date and showed her capabilities after an excellent 2yo season that included a brilliant second to All Is Secret in the Gr1 Allan Robertson, by winning the Magnolia Handicap last time out.
Paces
She had previously showed her paces against the boys when staying on for a 2,25 length second to the very smart Contador in a Graduatrion Plate over 1200m at this track in November.
The biggest danger to the Oppenheimer flyer comes in the form of the fast improving 5yo Coffee Sheik runs, who runs here fresh off his raid on Turffontein for the Gr2 Merchants run over 1160m at the beginning of December.
Coffee Sheik more than paid for his trip by running a great third and one lengths behind Jackodore. It was a top-class effort as he showed great pace and was giving the winner a kilo.
While he has had a month to get over the rigours, he is likely to strip fresh here and Sean Cormack partners him again.
Tough Task
Guantanamera finished just under a length behind Coffee Sheik in the Merchants when receiving 3,kgs from the Whithead runner.
Jeff Freedman’s gelded son of Mogok is something of a course and distance specialist and now gets the services of Anton Marcus. It is worth noting though that he is 2kgs worse off with Coffee Sheik and may struggle to get past him.
Mark Dixon’s coupling of Showmetheway and the consistent and lightly weighted 6yo Krackerjack Ace will warrant inclusion by the bigger budget punters.
Revelation
Showmetheway has been something of a revelation and has the unique distinction of winning five in a row since shedding his maiden in June. This winning streak culminated in a dashing win in the Listed Golden Loom at Turffontein two months ago.
While well weighted for that event, he has done little wrong and it is hardly surprising to see the connections stick with apprentice Keagan De Melo who has won all his races on him.
Krackerkack Ace is a five-time winner who carries just 50,5 kgs thanks to his apprentice claim.
While not remotely in the class of Franny, he gets 7 kgs from her as a 3yo filly and he could enjoy running what will no doubt feel close to riderless!
Jinx
Alec Laird’s KZN 1200 winner Sidestep beat a big field going away last time under topweight and gets the services of Kevin Shea again.
The lightly raced son of Mogok has won two of his three races over 1000m and also two of his last three starts. He will not lack for fitness or the necessary speed and looks a quietly progressive type of horse.
Sean Tarry’s 7yo Cool Spender has tumbled down the handicap in recent times and the son of Winter Romance has lost all semblance of form recently.
Cool Spender is 2,5kgs better off with Sidestep for a length beating over the Scottsville 1000m at the start of this season, but should battle against the likes of Franny and Coffee Sheik.
Pat Lunn’s unsound Storm Bringer is a winner of 3 of his 10 starts, but has not run for over 7 months and soundness and fitness doubts overshadow any confidence here.
Comic Book
Tony Rivalland’s very capable Mr Mickey Mouse is a course and distance winner, who appears to have lost a bit of his earlier sparkle.
A course and distance winner, the son of Muhtafal has visited the winner’s enclosure 6 times and showed good pace last time out before tiring late for third and a length behind Tetelestai. He is ridden again by Lucian Africa, and must have a place chance.
Greg And Karen Anthony’s ten-time winner Kings Gold found his form with a surprise win in an MR 79 Handicap over 1200m at this course last time. That win followed a long dry spell and he will be under pressure to maintain his revival.
We are going with the youthful fairer sex class in the race, and suggesting that Franny will be bright enough to hold Coffee Sheik with Sidestep and Showmetheway fighting over the minor money.
